Colleges and Universities

Higher education is available throughout the metro area, including at four-year universities, community colleges and schools that offer certification in nearly every field.

The District has a premier college for deaf and hearing-impaired students in Gallaudet University. Corcoran College of Art and Design, also in the District, offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis is the area’s most heralded defense-oriented institution, but it is not alone in that field. The National Defense Intelligence College for the intelligence community and the National Defense University for members of the armed forces offer courses and partner with local colleges and universities. Both are in the District.

The George Washington University campus in Ashburn. Photo by Len Spoden/TWP.

A major entry in the ranks of higher education is distance learning combined with limited campus work, with University of Phoenix branches scattered throughout the area. Several public universities across the nation, as well as universities in Virginia and Maryland, offer course work in various locations.

Law schools, medical schools and nursing institutions dot the map, alongside other specialized schools, including those for religious studies. Capitol College in Laurel is an independent college dedicated to engineering, computer science, information technology and business.

Many branches of major universities are located throughout the area. Community colleges are widely available and accessible, and many of the area’s universities have not only their main campuses in the area but branches in other locations.

For people interested in specialized learning, but not at a collegiate level, certification programs are available for such fields as health-care associate, dental assistant and others.

The District has a Web site that links to sites for all major universities, but it does not include the area’s for-profit institutions, such as Strayer University. The D.C. site is at www.consortium.org/nd_university.asp.

Maryland offers a list of all educational institutions and their Web sites at www.mhec.state.md.us/highered/colleges_universities/index.asp.

Virginia, likewise, lists all educational institutions, with their Web sites and information: www.schev.edu/students/collegelistalpha.asp.

Below are some of the area’s most popular four-year institutions. Many have branches in various locales:

• American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington 20016. 202-885- 1000; www.american.edu.
• Capitol College 11301 Springfield Rd., Laurel 20708. 301-369-2800; 800-950-1992; www.capitol-college.edu.
• Catholic University 620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington 20064. 202-319-5000; www.cua.edu.
• Columbia Union College 7600 Flower Ave., Takoma Park 20912. 301-891-4000; fax 301-891-4590; www.cuc.edu.
• Corcoran College of Art and Design 500 17th St. NW, Washington 20006. 202-639-1801; www.corcoran.edu.
• Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington 20002. TTY and voice 202-651-5000; fax 202-651-5477; www.gallaudet.edu.
• George Mason University 4400 University Dr., Fairfax 22030. 703-993-1000; TDD 703-993-1002; www.gmu.edu.
• George Washington University 2121 I St. NW, Washington 20052. 202-994-1000; www.gwu.edu.
• Georgetown University 37th and O streets NW, Washington 20057. 202-687-0100; www.georgetown.edu.
• Howard University 2400 Sixth St. NW, Washington 20059. 202-806-6100; www.howard.edu.
• Marymount University 2807 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington 22207. 703-522-5600; www.marymount.edu.
• Patrick Henry College 1 Patrick Henry Cir., Purcellville 20132. 540-338-1776; fax 540-338-8707; www.phc.edu.
• St. John’s College 60 College Ave., Annapolis 21401. 410-263-2371; www.stjohnscollege.edu.
• St. Mary’s College of Maryland 18952 E. Fisher Rd., St. Mary’s City 20686. 240-895-2000, www.smcm.edu.
• Trinity Washington University 125 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington 20017. 202-884-9000; www.trinitydc.edu.
• U.S. Naval Academy 121 Blake Rd., Annapolis 21402. 410-293-1000; www.usna.edu.
• University of Maryland 7603 Baltimore Ave., College Park 20742. 301-405-1000; www.umd.edu.
• University of the District of Columbia 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington*x 20008. 202-274-5000; www.udc.edu.

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